Portable bath mat



March 14, 1961 N. E. NORRIS 2,974,322

- PORTABLE BATH MAT Filed Aug. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR N EYQ March 14, 1961 -N. E. NORRIS PORTABLE BATH MAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1959 7 2 2 fi/z /4 11201!!! I M5315 ATTOR N 5Y5 United States Patent 1O 2,974,322 7 PORTABLE BATH MAT Naomi E. Norris, 3111 20th S t. 'N., Apt. C111,

Arlington 1, Va.

Filed Aug. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 832,825

4 Claims. 01. 4-185) N The present invention relates to a portable bath mat and particularly to a bath mat on which to bathe infants.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable bath mat which can be readily moved from place to place and set up quickly and easily for bathing an infant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable bath mat which is cushioned to prevent injury to the infant being bathed thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable bath mat of the class described above having a waterproof cover encompassing the padding material to prevent the padding material from absorbing moisture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable bath mat of the class described above having a plurality of storage pockets for maintaining bathing accessories conveniently positioned for ready access.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable bath mat of the class described above having means for securing an infant thereto so as to prevent injury to the infant during the bathing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bath mat of the class described above having a removable cushion with means thereon for securing 'an infant thereto.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention with the cover illustrated in partially open position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view similar to Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional w'ew taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a portable bath mat constructed in accordance with the invention.

The portable bath mat 10 includes a generally rectangular flat bottom wall 11 having a perpendicularly upstanding peripheral flange 12 integrally formed completely around the peripheral edge thereof. A pair of spaced apart, parallel side walls 13, 14 have their lower edges secured to the flange 12 and project upwardly therefrom. A pair of spaced apart, parallel end walls 15, 16 have their lower edges secured to the flange 12 and extend upwardly therefrom. The end walls 15, 16 integrally connect the opposite end edges of the side Walls 13, 14, as can be seen in Figure l.

ice

The side walls 13, 14 and the end walls 15, 16 each have an inwardly reverted lip 17 formed on the edge thereof opposite the bottom wall 11. v

A generally rectangular flat door 18 is connected to the 6 side wall 13 along the edge thereof opposite the bottom wall 11 by a hinge :19. The door 18 is arranged for engagement with the edges of the side wall 14 and the are divided into. a plurality of pockets 23 which are closed by a flap 24 arranged to releasably engage thereover. a

A carrying handle 25.. is secured to the end wall by a pair of conventionalfittings 26. A sponge rubber cushion, generally indicated at 27, is positioned within the portable bath mat 10 and includes a relatively thin, generally rectangular central portion 28 arranged in engagement with the bottom wall 11 and an integrally formed upstanding continuous side portion 29 extending perpendicularly upwardly from the flat portion 28 in contact with the side walls 13, 14 and the end walls 15, 16. A flexible waterproof plastic panel 30 completely overlies the upper surfaces of the sponge rubber cushion 27 and has the peripheral edges 31 thereof arranged in sealing engagement under the lip 17 so that the cushion 27 is protected against water contact therewith.

A generally rectangular relatively flat removable sponge rubber cushion 32 is supported on the relatively flat central portion 28 of the cushion 27 and extends into relatively tight engagement on all sides, with the upstanding portion 29. The removable cushion 32 is sealed in a flexible waterproof plastic cover 33 to completely prevent water from contacting the sponge rubber of the cushion 32.

A pair of straps 34, 35 are secured to opposite sides of the cushion 32 and arranged to extend transversely thereacross. A buckle 36 on the strap 35 is provided for securing the strap 35 to the strap 34 so as' to encompass an infant and hold the infant on the cushion 32. A terry cloth cover 37' is removably engaged over the movable cushion 32 to provide a warm, soft surface for supporting the infant.

The portable bath mat '10 is used for bathing infants by the sponge bath method, with the infant supported on the cushion 32 secured thereto by the straps 34, 35. The removable cushion 32 may be taken out of the bath mat 10 and'used on a suitable support, such as a table, bed or the like, to support the infant when giving a sponge bath should there be insuflicient room for using the complete portable bath mat 10.

The containers 22 are adapted to hold soap, bath cloths, baby oil, powder, and other bath necessities within convenient reach during the bathing operation. The door 18 closes the bath mat 10 to prevent it being soiled when not in use and to protect the cushions against damage. The'handle 25 permits the bath mat 10 to be conveniently carried from place to place so that the baby may be bathed conveniently when away from home.

The portable bath mat 10 provides a convenient means for bathing infants too small for tub baths, and consists of a compact unit which can be stored in a minimum of space.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous' structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable bath mat comprising a shallow open top container, a door hingedly secured to said container for closing the open top thereof, a sponge rubber cushion positioned in said container and having a generally rectangular depressed central portion, a waterproof flexible plastic panel covering the upper surfaces of said cushion with the peripheral edges of said plastic panel sealed to said container, a sponge rubber cushion seated in the recessed central portion of said first named cushion, a waterproof flexible plastic cover encompassing said last named cushion in sealed relation thereto, means on said last named cushion for releasably securing an infant thereto during bathing, and said container includes a bottom wall, a pair of upstanding spaced parallel side walls secured to opposite edges of said bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel upstanding end walls secured to opposite end edges of said bottom wall, said end walls and said side walls being integrally connecting at their abutting edges, an inwardly reverted peripheral lip formed continuously on said side walls and said end walls along the edge thereof opposite said bottom wall, said lip providing the 4 sealing means for the peripheral edge of said plastic panel with the peripheral edge of said plastic panel engaging under said lip.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said last named cushion is provided with a terry cloth cover encompassing said last named cushion and releasably secured thereto.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of pocketed containers are secured to the inner surface of said door for storing bath accessories therein.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for securing an infant to said last named cushion comprises a pair of straps secured to opposite side edges of said last named cushion and a buckle secured to one of said straps for releasably buckling said straps together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,329,326 Bloomberg Sept. 14, 1943 2,451,906 Berman Oct. 19, 1948 2,505,252 Langley Apr. 25, 1950 2,672,628 Spanel Mar. 23, 1954 2,760,208 Mussells Aug. 28, 1956 2,765,475 Nolan Oct. 9, 1956 

